Molecular mechanisms regulating synaptic strength

The long-term goal of this project is to define molecular mechanisms that control synaptic strength. Synapses are dynamic. Once formed, neural circuits evolve by the addition and elimination of synaptic connections and the modification of their strength. Setting and modifying the strength of synapses is important for refining developing circuits, and defects in these mechanisms are a likely etiology of neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism and mental retardation. To define molecular mechanisms that control synaptic strength, this study uses genetic, anatomical, and electrophysiological analysis in fruit flies. In screens that searched for genes required for efficient synaptic transmission, four mutants were identified. These mutants will be characterized to uncover the molecular mechanisms that form and maintain the active zone sites that release neurotransmitters in synapses. This research will improve understanding of how nerve cells connect and communicate in the brain, which could aid in the future development of new therapies for neurological diseases.